Automobile-signal.



c. B. MICHEL.

AUTOMOBILE SIGNAL.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 6. I916.

Patented July 2, 1918.

IN VENTOR. C'finlsfa a/rer 5. Michel w f W I TNESSES:

///5 A TTORNE Y5 CHRISTOPHER B. MICHEL, OF OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA.

ATITOMOBIL-E-SIGNAL.

2 Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 2, 1913.

Application filed September 6, 1916. Serial No. 118,615.

Toall'whom it mag concern: t I Be it known that I, CI-Inrs'rori-Inn B.

MICI-IEL, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Oakland,county of Alameda, State of Californim'have invented a new and usefulAutomobile-Signal, of which the following is a specification. 1 I

My invention relates to signaling devices and especially signalingdevices for automobiles.

An object of my invention is to provide a direction signal onanautomobile to indi cate. to those behind in what direction theautomobile'is to turn. i I Another object of my invention is to providean improved automobile tail light.

Another object of my invention is to providea device of the classdescribed comprising a direction signal and a stop signal.

The invention possesses other features of advantage, some of which, withthe foregoing, will be set forth in the following description of thepreferred form of my invention which is illustrated in the drawingsaccompanying and forming part of the specification. It is to beunderstood that I do not limit myself to the showing made by the saiddrawings and description, as I may adopt variations of the preferredform within the scope of my invention as set forth in the claims.

Referring to the drawings: Figure 1 is a side elevation of the signalapplied to an automobile. Portions of the figure are broken away toreduce the size.

Fig. 2 is a section through the steering post of the automobile taken onthe line 2-2 iif Fig. 1, and showing the signal operating ever.

Fig. 3 is a section on the line 33 of Fig. 1 showing a portion of thesignal operating mechanism.

Fig. 4 is an elevation of the signal arm. A large number of automobileaccidents are due to the fact that the intentions of a driver relativeto turning and stopping are not clear to the driver of a following car.In the present invent on I provide a signal .which is controlled by thedriver and by means of which the driver of any car in the rear isinformed whether the first driver intends to stop or turn to the left orto the right.

A frame 2 is mounted upon a shaft 3 which is arranged in suitablebearings on the frame or body of the car so that it may be partiallyrevolved or oscillated to vibrate the frame 2 through a suitable arewhich I prefer to make about 90 on each side of the vertical or normalposition of the frame 2. Means are provided foroscillating the shaft 3,including alever 4:

arranged in a convenient placejon th'esteering column 5 of the car sothatit-is easily reached by the driver. A plate7 is secured to thesteeringpost by the clamp member 8 and a shaft 12 to'whieh the operatinglever ft is secured, is journaled in the plate and v m a bearing of thestand 13 arranged conveniently on the floor or other suitable portion ofthe car. Preferably one end of the shaft 3 is also journaled in thestand 13. Lever arms 15 and 16 are secured to the shafts 12 and 3respectively, the ends of the lever arms being provided with sockets .inwhich the ball ends of the link 17 are articulated.

It is thus clear that movement of the operating lever 4: through themediate connections comprising the shaft 12, the link 17 and the shaft3, operates to move the frame 2 to one side or the other of the verticalposition. Stops 21 and 22 are provided on the plate 7 to limit the throwof the lever 4 and a spring-pressed catch 23 adapted to engage suitablylocated sockets in the curved rim of the plate serves to hold the lever4 in the position in which it is set.

Attached to the frame 2 is a signal arm 25 which moves with the frameand which is visible to any one viewing the car from the rear. Thesignal arm 25 is attached to the frame by means of eonically formedmembers 26 and 27 in the bases of which are arranged the lights 29 and31. The cones thus act as reflectors and protective casings for thelights. The signal arm is preferably formed like an arrow with the headend adj acent the cone 26, which is provided with a red glass or lens32. The light 29 in this cone isconnected through the circuit 33 withthe lighting system of the car and at night becomes the tail light,taking the place of the usual tail light. It is intended that this lightshall burn constantly during the night use of the car.

During the day, the signal arm is turned to point to the right or leftof its normally up right position, by means of the operating lever 4;,to indicate to the car following in Whichdirection the driver intends'toturn; forming reflectors fol-said tail light and and at night thered'tail light upon the arm said stop signal light.

similarly shifted conveys the same informa- 2. An. automobile signalComprising a 25 tion about the impending turn. shaftya' frame secured tosaid. shaft and The lower cone 27 is provided With a prefadapted to moveWhen said shaft is rotated, erably red glass 34:, and a letter S, 35, to"a Conical reflector casing arranged at each indicategstop is out in thematerial of the end of said frame, a tail light arranged in signal -;arm-over the glass. The light 31" one of said casings, anindependentlyillumi- 30 is controlled through the circuit 37 bya nablesignal. light in the other casing, an

19 push button arranged convenient to the armfor indicating directionlying across driver who is thus able at Will to cause a and supported bysaid reflector casings and brilliant-red S to flash from the signal armhaving apertures therein abovesaid lights,

as a stop, signal to those following. j and means for turning said shaftto move 35 .lu l x Y saidframe and vsignal arm.

. f-eAn Q Qm ile signal comprising a In testimony 'Whereof,-I havehereunto set shaft, a j directionndie taqhed; to said shaft, means foroscillating day of September; 191 6.

ating signal arm atmy hand at, Oakland,fCalifornia,,thisfirst l aid haftom ve said s gn e m CHRISTOPHER- B light; fo'rifsaid'automobilearrangedin the g L r q r 9' he (1 of ;saiol signal arm, an independentlyIn presence of* illuminahle stop signalarranged on said C. W; NOBEL,arm; -and conical casings protecting and .7 V R. BRooKEs.

' lifioizis! be obta ined for fi ve cents each, by ad dr essing' thefionimijsslioner of Patents;

